Monthly round-up: January, 2017

So I swear this is the only time I’m going to say this this year but where did January go? In a flash it seems and now we are here in February already. The good news in this, though, is that I have holidays booked this month so I guess I shouldn’t complain too much. Plus, January was a good reading month for me (for the most part anyway). Here’s how it went….

Right Behind You by Lisa Gardner, which sees a welcome return of Quincy and Rainie – two of my favourite Lisa Gardner characters. This time round they are trying to keep their adoptive daughter safe from a brother who has suddenly reappeared in her life and seems to be on a killing spree.

The Trapped Girl by Robert Dugoni, the fourth in the Tracy Crosswhite series of books and probably my favourite January read. I love Tracy, her passion for her job and her friends, her ability to relate to the victims (as she does here) and her unwillingness to let go of a case when she knows a killer is out there.

Wedlock by Wendy Moore, a non-fiction book which looks at the fascinating life of Mary Eleanor Bowes and her abusive husband Andrew Stoney. The Bowes are a well known name in part of because of the Queen mother but I had no idea of what Mary had to live through in order to protect herself and her children. If you read this, you’ll never say a domestic thriller plot is far fetched again.

Don’t Look Behind You by Mel Sherratt , another detective series I have a feeling I will be getting hooked on by one of my favourite authors. Sherratt has created an interesting character in Detective Eden Berrisford and a compelling read in this story that manages to combine thrills and suspense whilst at the same time highlighting violence against women and how harmful it is.

A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton, was a book I read almost 20 years ago and decided to revisit in advance of it’s 25th birthday. This is one of the only series I have read all the books for (and we are up to X I think, so it’s a lot) and I love the central character Kinsey Millhone. She’s a good old fashioned private investigator in the days before mobile phones and the internet and I enjoyed slipping back into that world.

Liar Liar by M. J. Arlidge, the fourth in the DI Helen Grace series where she is on the hunt for a serial arsonist who may be turning into a serial killer because he doesn’t seem to care who is in the houses he sets fire to – or does he. It’s up to Helen to figure that out and stop him before he kills someone.

The Silence of the Sea by Yrsa Sigurdardottir, an Icelandic thriller with a supernatural / spooky twist, this one had me turning pages and trying to figure out just what was happening. Iceland is a great place to set this type of book and Sigurdardottir writes in a dark, claustrophobic, way that I really like.

Good Me, Bad Me by Ali Land, a book that is supposed to be one of the books of the year and I can see why. It’s the story of a 15 year old daughter of a serial killer and how she comes to terms with not only what her mother has done but what she has done to survive. Compelling.

Duplicity by Sibel Hodge, where I had to suspend belief somewhat but as this was so well written I didn’t mind doing that. I loved the detective in this one and the twists and turns, which kept me guessing right through to the end.

Two Days Gone by Randall Silvis, which I just couldn’t get away with because a) I didn’t like the central characters and b) the one I liked best out of the two disappeared two-thirds of the way through just when I was starting to sympathise with him. Frustrating.

The Missing by Caroline Eriksson, which I also couldn’t get away with, again because of the characters but also because of holes in the plot and a twist at the end which just didn’t make any sense to me. Not one I can recommend I’m afraid (though I do still like the cover).

And that’s it for me for January – like I said, not bad – with only two books I just don’t think I can bring myself to recommend. What about you – how was your month, reading and otherwise?

Emma

This month, I’m linking with Kathryn at Book Date and Nicole at Feed Your Fiction Addiction with their monthly round-up posts (clicking on the images will take you to the posts to check out what others have been reading).

Great reading month! I just got Right Behind You, and I now remember a couple of others I want after seeing your list. (Liar, Liar, Don’t Look Behind You). I don’t think Good Me, Bad Me is available here yet, and I’m sticking to my plan not to go nuts on NetGalley. So far, I have five books to read from them (for March and May).

I started The Missing…and set it aside. I might get back to it at some point, but sadly, when I don’t connect with the confusing aspects of a story right away, I probably won’t later, either.

I hope you enjoy Right Behind You and sure you will the others. I always forget about books coming out at different times – in this Internet age I wonder why bother? I can’t say I would recommend picking up The Missing again if you can help it 😒

It was a good month. I decided not long after I started blogging to just say if I liked a book or not as ratings were always hard and books are such a personal thing. It works for me, though I still end up rating on goodreads etc. Thank you for stopping by.